National Novel Writing Month (aka NaNoWriMo) has generated one of the most effective approaches to writing the novel of your dreams. But it’s not just for adults. Its Young Writers Program encourages kids in grades K-12 to pick up their pens (or pencils, or keyboards) and tackle this enormous feat head-on. 

Come to celebrate the publication of NaNoWriMo’s teen writing guide, Brave the Page, which promotes NaNoWriMo’s belief that everyone’s stories deserve to be told. It’s a fun guide that introduces young people to NaNoWriMo’s signature “deadline plus goal” approach and includes craft information, pep talks from popular authors, advice on how to commit to your goals, a detailed roadmap for writing a novel in a month, and more!

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes in the transformational power of creativity. They provide the structure, community, and encouragement to help people find their voices, achieve creative goals, and build new worlds–on and off the page. With its first event in 1999, the organization’s programs now include National Novel Writing Month in November, Camp NaNoWriMo, the Young Writers Program, Come Write In, and the “Now What?” Months.

Grant Faulkner is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and the co-founder of 100 Word Story. He’s published two books on writing: Brave the Page and Pep Talks for Writers: 52 Insights and Actions to Boost Your Creative Mojo. He’s also published Fissures, a collection of 100-word stories, and Nothing Short of 100: Selected Tales from 100 Word Story. His stories have appeared in dozens of literary magazines; his essays on creativity in The New York Times, Poets & Writers, Writer’s Digest, and The Writer. He also co-hosts Write-minded, a weekly podcast on writing and publishing.  

Rebecca Stern has experienced NaNoWriMo from every angle: she had her students participate in the Young Writers Program when she was a teacher, did a victory dance in the 50K winner’s circle, served on the organization’s Associate Board, and then was Director of Programs. Rebecca is now Development Manager. Prior to working for NaNoWriMo, Stern was a teacher and a Senior Digital Editor at Pearson Education. She also co-edited an anthology for kids called Breakfast on Mars and 37 Other Delectable Essays.

Laura Bradley teaches middle school English, Design Lab and Broadcast Media at Kenilworth Junior High School in Petaluma. After 20 years of pulling teeth to get her students to write, she hit the jackpot with NaNoWriMo’s Young Writers Program. She and her 8th graders have participated in NaNoWriMo since 2011, and she credits the novel-writing challenge with dramatically increasing her students’ enthusiasm about writing, as well as their skills and confidence. Bradley is a National Board Certified Teacher, Edutopia facilitator, PBS Innovator All-Star, and occasional blogger.